An alternate to begin Strikeforce’s ambitious heavyweight grand prix, Cormier on Saturday completed his unforeseen run to a tournament win with a one-sided shellacking of Josh Barnett.

And unlike the infamous winner of UFC 3, Cormier’s wins over Barnett, Antonio Silva, Jeff Monson and Devin Cole left little doubt as to his validity as a tourney champion.

The Cormier vs. Barnett bout, which took place at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., aired on Showtime and served as the main event of the “Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final.”

The action followed the evening’s preliminary card, which aired on Showtime Extreme.

Barnett used his lengthy jab early, looking to use range to his advantage. However, Cormier showed little concern in the standup department, standing in the pocket and firing back, even scoring with a big knee early on.

Cormier looked extremely relaxed as the round wore on, walking forward with uncanny confidence and punishing Barnett inside with body shots and knees to the head. Barnett landed with his jab when he could find space, but it was generally Cormier getting the best of the striking exchanges, save for a solid punch-knee combination from his opponent in the final seconds of the first.

Despite his wrestling prowess, Cormier continued to work a solid striking game in the second. Barnett was willing to answer, but Cormier’s use of hooks to both the head and body left his opponent guessing. Halfway into the frame, Cormier did shoot a single and shift the action to the canvas, where he set up in top position. Barnett tried to switch his hips and look for potential submissions, but Cormier’s elbows drew gushing blood from his foe’s face. Cormier ended the round on top, and Barnett looked a bit out of sorts on the stool.

Cormier continued to box in the third. It was Barnett holding the center, but Cormier shifted and switched angles to create openings until he launched into a massive slamming takedown from high-crotch that took him directly to side control. The wily Barnett didn’t stay there long, climbing back to his feet and looking again to strike. But it didn’t necessarily go his way, as Cormier landing a surprising high kick to the chin and swarmed with a flurry to his stunned opponent. Barnett looked to be in trouble, but he covered up and survived against the cage.

As the championship rounds unfolded, Cormier was still the more active fighter, firing off a variety of high kicks along with his punches to the body and head. A battered Barnett refused to go away, moving forward and even whiffing on a big spinning backfist. Barnett threatened late in the round with an attack on the leg, running through submission attempts before nearly locking out a heel hook. However, it was not to be, and Cormier pulled free from the hold and moved to top position, where he again drew significant plasma.

The fifth round was more of the same, as Cormier simply outstruck, outwrestled and outworked Barnett, who did everything he could to reverse the momentum but found little in the way of options. Cormier simply held Barnett against the cage for much of the round before the final bell signaled his obvious win.

Cormier (10-0 MMA, 7-0 SF) is now undefeated in his first 10 fights as a professional and is expected to receive one more big-name fight before Strikeforce shutters for good its heavyweight division. Barnett (31-6 MMA, 2-1 SF) sees an eight-fight win streak snapped.

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